funny behavior

[ewaugaman]

My chickens are acting very funny, they have stopped laying eggs, and everyday I go in there coop to feed them, there is usually more feed on the ground then there is in there feeder, why is this? they are wasting most of it. Also I have about three chickens that are molting, is this normal this time of the year? I live in Washington and Feb has been very cold and windy, they are in a covered coop, always with good ventilation. of course when I go in there coop to feed them they act very hungry, I also feed them meal-worms, they usually love them, but I also noticed they are not eating them anymore. can you please tell me what is wrong? Thank you so much.

 

[aart]

there is usually more feed on the ground then there is in there feeder, why is this? they are wasting most of it.

Did you just get a new bag of feed?

Also I have about three chickens that are molting, is this normal this time of the year?

How old are your birds?

 

[The Lazy L]

1. Is something else eating the feed, scaring the chickens away from the feeder?
2. Different band of feed?
3. Feeder height is as high as the chickens backs?
4. Colder weather, less daylight and molting could equal less eggs too.

My Flock #2 was knocking feed out of their feeder. Trail cam showed it was the chickens, I removed the feeder until they had pecked up all the feed they had spilled.

 

[PirateGirl]

Food on the ground is not necessarily wasted food. I only give my chickens as much food as they eat in a day. Whether they eat it out of the feeder or dump the whole thing and eat it off the ground is their choice. I don't re-fill it if they spill it or bill it out.

Chickens learn to associate us with bringing food, so they act accordingly, we then tend to call this "acting hungry" it does not mean they are hungry, they are just habituated to us bringing food. If they are of a healthy weight and feathers appear in good condition, they are likely getting enough quality nutrition.

 

[ewaugaman]

Did you just get a new bag of feed?

How old are your birds?

they are proberbly close to 2 years old, and as far as there feed, no I put all my feed in a big tote, I want to use up what I have in there before I get a new bag, do you think that is the reason, maybe it is getting to old. Maybe I should pitch it and put in a new bag. what do you think

 

[aart]

they are proberbly close to 2 years old, and as far as there feed, no I put all my feed in a big tote, I want to use up what I have in there before I get a new bag, do you think that is the reason, maybe it is getting to old. Maybe I should pitch it and put in a new bag. what do you think

I don't know.
It's good to know when your feed was manufactured, this should be on the tag or printed on sew band on bottom of bag. Old feed can have degraded nutrients.
Feed not stored in a dry place can get moldy.

 

[CannedMonster]

Also, how many chickens do you have?
When I only had 5 birds I would buy small bags of feed so it didn’t go stale before they finished it.
Now that I have 22, I buy 50# bags.

 

[ewaugaman]

I don't know.
It's good to know when your feed was manufactured, this should be on the tag or printed on sew band on bottom of bag. Old feed can have degraded nutrients.
Feed not stored in a dry place can get moldy.

No it is in a dry place, big tote. Thank you so much for your reply

 

[GC-Raptor]

they are proberbly close to 2 years old, and as far as there feed, no I put all my feed in a big tote, I want to use up what I have in there before I get a new bag, do you think that is the reason, maybe it is getting to old. Maybe I should pitch it and put in a new bag. what do you think

Depends, how old is the feed? I had feed go bad 5 months past mill date stored in my house.
I had 5 hens and used to buy 40# bags. I lost 2 hens and feed lasted nearly twice as long.
I switched to a 25# bag of Non-Medicated Start & Grow feed with Oyster Shells separately.
Now I have 10 chickens and buy a 50# bag of feed.
I keep feed in my house in original bag tightly closed with a bag clip. Air above feed will degrade feed and humidity will spoil feed quickly. .
I have Galvanized feeders (hold 12 to 15#). .
Hang feeders so lip of trough is level with smallest chickens back. GC